By Jennifer Bemisderfer

Last Thursday, Pike Research released an interesting study, “Electronics Recycling and E-Waste Issues,” shedding light on the public’s opinion regarding the problem of escalating waste from discarded, outdated devices. This independent survey found that while 76 percent of Americans consider recycling to be the best option for reducing e-waste, only 10 percent believes the financial responsibility rests with manufacturers. Thirty-seven percent of those surveyed think recycling services should be free, and nearly the same amount (35 percent) feel that curbside e-waste pickup, similar to municipal trash pickup, should be provided.

To address the growing issue of electronics waste  in the U.S., many electronics companies have begun sponsoring recycling programs, establishing take-back practices and offering rebates for exchanging unwanted products. Local governments and community organizations have also subsidized e-waste recycling events, and some states have mandated their own laws for e-waste recycling. CEA even has a consumer website, www.myGreenElectronics.org, which offers a zip-code searchable database of electronics recyclers nationwide. However, with a lack of uniformity in approach, disputes have arisen over exactly what should be done about e-waste—and who should foot the bill.

Given the willingness of many CE manufacturers to invest in responsible end-of-life care for their products, it seems fair that the government help to share the burden. To maximize efficiency and ensure a level playing field for businesses, CEA and its members believe a federal framework would be superior to the current patchwork of policies. What do you think? Who should be responsible for e-waste and what does “producer responsibility” mean to you?